Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Last night, we had a dozen students over from UCV, or Cesar Vallejo University. Our Peruvian campus minister, Gerardo, is working on an additional degree there and has to teach some courses as well. Through his influence there, we are gaining access to new students.

Please pray for these new students as we seek to enfold them into the campus ministry and as we seek ways to meaningfully speak the Gospel to them and through them to other students.

We kept the men busy with lectures at the National University of Trujillo and Cesar Vallejo University in Trujillo, and then we bused 7 hours into the Andes mountains to connect with Dr. Alonzo Ramirez in our Cajamarca branch of Peru Mission. There, the professors gave lectures at the National University of Cajamarca as well as the local church. Throughout the week, these men spoke to crowds of upwards to 150 students and faculty. They were an amazing help to our ministry here in both enabling us to serve the universities and show that we take the universities seriously, as well as demonstrating that Christians can be scientists and leaders in their fields. As one student to Dr. Ramirez, the thinking among many Peruvians is that you cannot be a scientist and a Christian at the same time.

We had a little fun as well. In Cajamarca, we went hiking at Cumbe Mayo (a rare treat that we don't have the ability to do in Trujillo). Beautiful countryside. Here are some pics, but of course they don't do it any justice.

At the end of the week, Gerardo and I felt a little worse for wear, but we had a great time.

Thank you, Drs. Doughty & Whiting, for your service to our work here and for they way you demonstrated Christian integrity in your fields. Thanks to all the students who worked hard to make this possible, and thanks to all of you back in the states who prayed for the week. re

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Wow, has it really been that long since I’ve blogged? I’m terribly sorry. Let me try to fill you in a bit.

After the whirlwind of the spring break trips, the month of April was a fairly normal, back to the nuts and bolts of ministry month. I was officially received into the Presbytery here (a long time in coming!), I taught our RUF large group meeting several times, preached in our church in Larco the week before our new pastor was installed, and participated in a number of our small groups while working on philosophy of ministry stuff with Gerardo, our campus ministry.

May was an interesting month. He had an unexpected trip back to Houston for the funeral of Heather’s brother. We also took our family on a vacation to Machu Picchu, now one of the official Seven Wonders of the World. It was amazing and you can see more about our trip on my wife’s blog. Now where preparing for a number of short term teams that will be coming in the next weeks.

Last year, Dr. David Doughty of Christopher Newport University came and assisted our ministry by giving several physics lectures at La Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, including an additional talk on “How a Physicist Sees God” at our university ministry. He is back again for another series of lectures, and this time he brought a colleague, Dr. Gary Whiting who will be giving some biology lectures as well. Both men will be speaking both at UNT and at La Universidad Cesar Vallejo under the auspices of our university ministry. Please be in prayer for us this week as we’ll head up to Cajamarca on Wednesday to do the same thing there with the Cajamarca branch of Peru Mission. I’ll post pictures and updates in the coming week.

This is the blog of John & Heather Ferguson keeping you up to date about life & ministry among the students & parish churches of Peru (& whatever else strikes our fancy). After spending seven years with RUF at Texas A&M University, the Ferguson's have moved to Peru to aid in the work of renewing northern Peru with the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!